Buzz Aldrin buzzing right along with new SpaceStakes space contest

William Atkins
Wednesday, 18 April 2007 22:17

Science - Space

Buzz Aldren confirmed on Tuesday, April 17, 2007, at a space investment conference in New York City that he and his stepdaughter, Lisa Cannon, are developing a contest through Aldrin’s ShareSpace Foundation to send the winner to orbit about the Earth. The Foundation was organized to promote science and space travel in U.S. schools. 

By the way, you don’t need to use quotes around “Buzz” anymore because he made Buzz his official first name in 1988. He was born on January 20, 1930 as Edwin Eugene Alddrin, Jr.

The contest is named SpaceStakes. Still early in development, the contest may involve a sweepstakes, raffle, or lottery, and the grand prize will be first a zero-gravity flight, and then later suborbital and orbital flights. The spacecraft to be used in the contest is also still undecided. Aldrin's stepdaughter, Lisa Cannon, is the president of StarBuzz Enterprises.

Aldrin stated that the winner would be eighteen years or older and in good physical health. He added that the prize could not be transferred to another person and could not be sold on eBay.

On July 20, 1969, NASA Apollo 11 astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong landed their Lunar Module on the Sea of Tranquility and became the first two humans to walk on the Moon. For his heroic actions, Aldrin was awarded the Presidential Metal of Freedom. Buzz Aldrin’s Web site is: http://www.buzzaldrin.com/.

Aldrin also founded Starcraft Boosters, Inc., a rocket design company. His nonprofit organization, ShareSpace Foundation, is dedicated to promoting space travel and making space available to all peoples. The Web site of ShareSpace Foundation is: http://www.sharespace.org/.